Marionette actuating and controlling apparatus



Oct. 9, 1951 c. E. WHITCOMB 2,570,737

MARIONETTE ACTUATING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1949 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

A TI'ORNE K Z. ff O5.

CHARLES E WHITCUMB Oct. 9, 1951 c. E. WHlTCOMB MARIONETTE ACTUATING ANDCONTROLLING'APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1949 INVENTOR.CHARZES E. Wl/TCOMB.

HT RIGHT EAD 5 ARM LEFT RIG LE -mean Len LEFT mam ARM LEG A T ORNEY Oct.9, 1951 c. E. WHITCOMB ,7 7

MARIONETTE ACTUATING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledAug. 15, 1949 0 -11 LEFTARM LEFT LEG RIGHT LEG RIGHTARM NOD JUMP TURN HEAD HIPS HEAD BOW HEA D RIGHT LEFT II I III III'IIII INVENTOR. CHARLESE. WHII'COMB.

A TTORNE Y.

Oct. 9, 1951 c. E. WHITCOMB MARIONETTE ACTUATING AND CONTROLLINGAPPARATUS 4 SheetsSheet 4 Filed Aug. 15, 1949 INVENTOR. CHARZES E.WHITC'OMB. afi w A rraENE Y.

Patented Oct. 9, 1951 MARIONETTE ACTUATING AND CON- TROLLING APPARATUSCharles E. Whitcomb, Bayside, N. Y., assignor to himself and HarryOBrien, New York, N. Y.

Application August 15, 1949, Serial No. 110,437

14 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to marionette actuating and controlling apparatus.

Marionette or puppet shows are generally performed by skilled andexperienced artists. Conventional apparatus for actuating andcontrolling the marionettes is in no important respect different fromthe corresponding apparatus or equipment which was used many years ago.Strings or wires are attached to the several appendages or limbs, aswell as to the torso, of each marionette, and means are provided forattaching the same strings or wires at their opposite ends to theperformers fingers. As each string or wire is pulled, that part of themarionette to which it is attached reacts accordingly, and as each saidstring or wire is released, an opposite reaction is achieved. Theperformer is required to master the apparatus in the same manner that apianist must master the keyboard. As there are no identifying indicia onthe keys of a piano, so are there no identifying indicia on the stringsof the marionette. The performer must learn and memorize the 'connectionof each string with the corresponding part of the marionette and he mustlearn to manipulate the strings without any mental effort.

The present invention is of apparatus for the actuation and control ofmarionettes, wherein each string is keyed and labeled to facilitatelearning the operation of said apparatus. Each string is provided withidentifying material which clearly indicates which part of themarionette that particular string controls so that a novice or beginnerhas only to read this material as he operates the apparatus in order toenable him to manipulate the several strings controlling the marionette,intelligently.

It is therefore one important object of the present invention to providemarionettes actuating and controlling apparatus which may be used forinstruction and learning purposes: especially may it be used forself-instruction.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of labeledmeans for actuating the marionette strings. In the preferred form ofthis invention, each string is connected to an appropriately labeledbutton or slide which may readily be manipulated by the fingers of theperformer. Each button or slide is mounted on its own individual tracyand all of the buttons or slides are manipulated or actuated in the samemanner, that is, by moving them in one direction or the other alongtheir respective tracks. Since the strings are attached to buttons whichalways remain in their respective tracks, and not to the fingers of theperformer, the performer may release any one or more strings at anyappropriate time or times, since it is no trouble or efiort whatsoeverto resume control over said released strings when and as desired. Thebuttons or slides may or may not be under tension compelling them toreturn to their normally inoperative positions. Tension controlledbuttons or slides may be utilized where it is desirable to return thestrings to their inoperative positions immediately upon their release bythe fingers of the performer. Non-tensioned buttons or slides may beutilized where it is desired to retain certain strings on operativeposition even though they may be released by the fingers of theperformer. In a complete marionette show both types of buttons or slidesmay be used.

The use of these string controlling buttons or slides provides importantadvantages over conventional marionette controlling apparatus. In thefirst place, it enables experienced performers to handle a greaternumber of marionettes than is at all possible with conventionalequipment. In the second place, it opens the marionette art to greaternumbers of people who would normally be unable to master conventionalapparatus currently and in the past used in marionette shows.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of marionettecontrolling apparatus of the character described which is compactlycontained in a box that simulates and resembles a theater stage. Themarionette or marionettes are mounted on one side of a partition whichsimulates the backdrop of a stage and the control apparatus is situatedon the opposite side of the partition. The control apparatus may bemounted on the back of the partition or it may be mounted on a backcover which is provided for the box, said back cover being hingedlyconnected to the back of the box so that it may be swung intocomfortable operating position.

A further object of this invention is the provision of marionettecontrolling apparatus of the character described which operates througha movable carriage in the marionette box so that the marionette ormarionettes may be moved bodily from one part of the stage to anotherpart without disturbing the relative positions of their several parts,if that be desired. The use of a movable carriage also renders itpossible to walk the marionettes across the stage or perform similarfeatsl Preferred forms of this invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawing in which:

, Fig. 1 is a front or stage view of the box containing a marionette andthe apparatus for controlling said marionette, made in accordance withone form of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a back view showing the back doors in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a top view.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front view, partly in vertical section and withthe roof partly broken away to expose so much of the marionettecontrolling strings as may be found in front of the backdrop of thestage, also showing the eyes which support said strings.

Fig. 6 is a side view similar to that of Fig. 2 but showing part of theside wall broken away to expose the marionette controlling strings.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the back of the entire box, showin theback doors thereof in open position and a hinged back cover or panellying in supine position, said back cover or panel being provided withsome of the marionette controlling apparatus.

Fig. 8 is a plan vie'w'of said back cover or panel.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through said back cover or panel andthrough a part of the movable carriage through which the marionettecontrolling strings pass.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Iii-lilof Fig. 8, showing some of thestring controlling buttons or slides and the tracks in which they aredisposed.

Fig. 11 is a back view of the marionette showing some of the stringsattached thereto.

Fig. 12 is a back view of a marionette box in which the controlapparatus is made in accordance with a second'form'of this invention.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section through one of thepanel boards of said control apparatus.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of one of said panel boards.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a second panel board.

Fig. 16 is a view similar to that'of Fig. 12 showing how the fingers ofthe 'performer'engage the rings which control the strings in the secondform of this invention.

Fig. 1'? is a view similar to that of Fig. 12 showing marionettecontrolling apparatus made in accordance with a third form of thisinvention.

Fig. 18 is a sectional View on the line l8-l'8 of Fig. 17.

Referring now to the first form of this invention and to the first 11figures of the drawing it will be seen that a box 293 is provided inwhich both the marionettes'Zi and the apparatus which controls themarionette are mounted. Box 20 has a floor 22 which simulates the floorof a stage and side walls 23 and 24 respectively, a roof 25 and abackdrop 26 which, combined, give the effect of a simulated or miniaturetheater stage. The marionette performs either on or above the stagefloor 22 and in front of the backdrop 26. The roof 25 slopes forwardlyand downwardly above the marionette to conceal as much of the marionettecontrolling'apparatus as possible, and especially carriage 3H and mirror3|. The mirror projects at an angle of approximately 45 with respect tothe vertical, or at any other suitable angle, to enable the performer toview the performance of'the marionette from the back. The backdrop 26does not extend the full distance to the top of the roof 'so that aspace or window is thereby provided above the backdrop through which themirror may be viewed from the back.

It will be noted that nine strings a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, and irespectively'are attached to nine different parts of the marionette.Figs. 5 and 11 will show that string a is attached to the left side ofthe head of the marionette, string 1) is attached to the right arm orforearm, string 0 is attached to the right leg, string d is attached tothe lower back of the torso, string e is attached to the back of thehead or possibly to the nape of the neck, string f is attached to thetop of the marionettes hat, string g is attached to the left leg, stringh is attached to the left arm or forearm and string 2' is attached tothe right side of the marionettes head. When, by the means hereinafterdescribed, string a is pulled, the marionettes head is turned to theleft; when string 2 is pulled, the head is turned to the right; whenstring b is pulled, the marionettes right arm is raised; when string his pulled, his left arm is raised; when string 0 is pulled, the rightleg is raised; when string g is pulled, the left leg is raised; whenstring 11 is pulled together with string e, the entire marionette may belifted, and other bodily movements may be provided by pulling strings dand e individually or alternately; and when string f is pulled, the headmay be caused to raise up or bob. Hands ii] and ll and feet 42 and 43are each weighted so that when the appropriate strings which control thearms and legs of the marionette are released, said arms and legs willdrop downwardly to their lowermost positions and carry the strings alongwith them. The head 44 may also be weighted so that the marionette willtend to nod unless the head or hat controlling string is held in taut orraised position.

It will be seen in Fig. '5 that the several strings above describedextend either sidewardly and then upwardly, or simply upwardly beforethey pass behind. the backdrop. Strings a and i'extend through eyescrews '45 in the side walls of the box and then these strings as wellas all of the other strings pass through similar eye screws 46 afiixedto carriage 30. Carriage 30 has a horizontally extending portion whichprojects forwardly over the top of the back stage and it has avertically extending portion which projects downwardly behind the backstage. Eye screws 46 are aflixed to the horizontal portion of thecarriage and additional'ey'e screws 47 are fastened to the verticallyextending portion of the carriage, immediately behind said eye screws46. See Fig. 6. The strings project backwardly from eye screws 46 to eyescrews 41 and then downwardly between the'back of the backdrop 26 andthe front of vertically extending portion 36b of the carriage. Aplurality of hollow rivets or eyes 48 is provided at the bottom ofvertical portion 38b and it will be noted in Fig 9that the strings passoutwardly from the'space between said vertical portion 30b and thebackdrop 26, through said hollow rivets 48. See Figs.'6 and 9, and alsoFig. 7. It will be seen insaid Fig. 7 that three of the strings, to witstrings d, e and f, then project upwardly and through'ey'es '50 whichare fastened to the back of vertical portion 35b of the carriage. Thesestrings are then attached to button slides dd, ee and'firespectivelywhich are slidably mounted in tracks 5| provided on the back of verticalportion 30b of the carriage, vertically thereof. The three verticaltracks'5l are all parallel to each other and hence the three buttonslides are vertically movablealong parallel lines. Elastic members 52are attached at their lower ends to said button'slides and at theirupper ends to the top of 'the-c'arriage'and they act upon the buttonslides to draw them upstrings d, e and f and to allow the marionetteparts to which they are attached, to. drop.

Strings a, b, c, g, hand i extend downwardly after they issue fromhollow rivets 48 and they then pass through eye screws 54 fastened toback panel or cover 55 of the box. This back panel is hingedly connectedat its lower end to the bottom of the box and it may be swung intoclosed vertical position or into open horizontal position. See Figs. '7and 9 where the open horizontal position of the back panel is shown.

Strings a, b, c, g, h and 2' are then attached to button slides aa, bb,cc, gg, hh and ii respectively which are slidably mounted in tracks 51formed in said back panel 55. These button slides and their respectivetracks are similar to the button slides and tracks of the carriage abovedescribed. Tracks 51 are parallel to each other and they extendvertically when the back panel is in its closed vertical position andthey extend horizontally when said back panel is in its open horizontalposition. There. are no elastic members similar to members 52 attachedto button slides aa, bb, cc, gg, hh and Instead these latter slides aremanually movable in either direction, that is. either forwardlyorbackwardly on a common horizontal plane. When they are movedforwardly, that is in the direction of the marionette stage, theyrelease the strings to which they are attached and the marionette partsto which said strings are fastened are thereby allowed to drop by reasonof the attraction of gravity upon the weights which they carry. When thebutton slides last mentioned are pulled backwardly, that is away fromthe marionette stage and toward the performer, the strings to which theyare attached are thereby pulled and the marionette parts to which saidstrings are fastened are thereby raised or elevated. This isparticularly true of strings I), c, g and h. Strings a and i areattached to the sides of the marionettes head and so when string a ispulled the marionettes head is caused to turn to the left, and whenstring i is pulled the marionettes head is caused to turn to the right.

Indicating lines 60 and indicating arrows 6! maybe provided on backpanel adjacent tracks 51 formed therein. These indicating marks may beutilized to determine or indicate the direction of movement which thebutton slides are to take and also the extent of their movement. Theseveral tracks of the back panel as well as the tracks of the carriagemay be labeled to indicate which parts of the marionette the severalbutton slides control. These labels may also indicate the nature of theaction of the marionette when the button slides are respectively moved.

It will be apparent from the fact thatall of the strings pass througheyescrews fastened to the carriage, that movement of the carriage eitherto the right or to the left will cause the marionette to move across thestage accordingly. To facilitate such sideward movement of the carriagein either direction the top horizontal portion 3% of the carriage isprovided with a plurality of spaced lugs 64 which are fastened tov saidhorizontal portion of the carriage on both sides of a crossbar 65. Theends of the crossbar are fastened to the two side walls of themarionette box and said crossbar serves as a guide or track along whichthe carriage may travel from side to side. The bottom end of thevertically extending portion 30b of the carriage is provided with a base86 which is slidably movable from side to side in the space between thebackdrop 26 and the back panel 55. See Fig. 9. Since the back panel 55does not move sidewardly, movement of the carriage from one side to an:-other will eiiect corresponding changes in the relative positions of theseveral button slides mounted on said back panel. Marks 60 or similarmarks may be used to indicate the changed positions of the severalbutton slides.

The horizontal position of the back panel 55 is its operative positionand when the mario: nette show comes to an end said back panel may beswung upwardly into its closed or inoperative vertical position. Theback of the box may further be provided with a pair of doors 68 and 68respectively which are hingedly mounted on the two side walls of saidbox. Fig. 7 shows the open position of said doors and Fig. 3 shows theirclosed position. A latch or looking member 10 may be provided to lockthe two doors in closed position. Since these doors are backed upagainst the back panel 55 they are instrumental in holding said backpanel in its closed or inoperative vertical position. N

Fig. 10 shows one way in which the button slides and their respectivetracks may be constructed. Although only button slides aa, bb and co areshown in Fig. 10, they are representative of all of the button slideshereinabove referred to. Each button slide comprises a button portion 72and a slide portion 13 to which the button portion is connected or withwhich it is integral. The slide portion is wider than the button portionand it projects sidewardly into longitudinally extending grooves whichcomprise tracks 51. In effect this is a tongue-in-groove constructionwhich enables the button slides to move along their respective tracksbut prevents them from leaving their said tracks.

Reference to Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive will disclose the fact that thesecond form of this invention is similar to the first form except thatthe strings are attached to difierent finger manipulating means. Inplace of eye screws 41, carriage 88 of the second form of this inventionis provided with hollow rivets or eyes 8! through which the stringsextend from the front of the carriage to the back. The strings thenproject downwardly and each string is connected to a finger ring 82which may be held by a finger for the purpose of manipulating the stringto which it is attached or which may be attached to a hook 83 when theapparatus is idle. In other words, there are as many finger rings asthere are strings and as many hooks as there are finger rings. Carriage83 is provided with a pair of panel boards 84 and 85 respectively.Theupper panel board 84 has holes 86, 81 and 88 formed therein to allowfive of the strings to pass therethrough and to reach the lower panelboard 85. Four hooks 83 are fastened to the top panel board to engagethe rings of four strings and five hooks 83 are fastened to the lowerpanel board to engage the rings of five strings. Each hook is labeled inthe same manner that the tracks of the first form of this invention werelabeled, indicating the marionette parts to which the several; stringsare attached and the type plurality of vertically extendingtracks ii i.

'the three upper keys.

parapet 7 'or action-which would result from manipulating said-s'ti-ings.

The fingers of the performer are thrust through the several rings in themanner shown -inFig.16 and the strings may be pulled .by simply pullingupon the appropriate rings. The rings may be pulled either downwardlyorbackwar'dly 'or -at an angle somewhere betweenthe horizontal and thevertical.

In the third form of this invention, shown in Figs. '17 and 18, carriage'90 is provided with a Each track has a key 92 slidably mounted thereinas Fig. 18 clearly shows. Keys 92 may bemounted in tracks 9| in the samemanner that "button slides aa, bb, etc. are slidably mounted in tracks51, that is, by means of a tongue-and-groove construction. Keys 92project outwardly at'right an'g'lesto the vertical tracks and they areprovided with horizontally extending buttons 92a which the fingersengage to actuate the keys.

The keys and especially their respective buttons --are disposed on theoperators side of the carriage 9U. Projections 93 are also formed onsaid keys but these projections extend into the space between thecarriage 99 and the backstop of the stage. See Fig. 18. The stringsproject --downwardly into the same space as'witness the strings in Fig.6, and they are tied or otherwise fastened to said projections 93. Sixof the strings, to wit strings 53 i, are-attached directly toprojections 93 of the six lowermostkeys shown in Fig. 17. Three of thestrings, to wit strings "95, are attachedindirec'tly to projections 93or the three upper keys shown in Fig. 17, that is,

they are firstlooped around eye screws '96 which 'are' fastened to thebottom of the carriage and they arefthen swung upwardly to meetprojections 93 of the three upper keys. Above said three projections ofthe three upper keys are "three eye screws QT and elastic ban'ds98interconnect said eye screws 97 with projections 93 of The tendency ofthese elastic bands is, of course, to pull the three upper keys upwardlyand hence to place strings 85 under tension.

The apparatus last above described may be actuated in much thesainemanner as the apparatus first above'desc'ribed is actuated. Eachkey is labeled in the manner that the button slides of the first form ofthis invention are labeled and it may be actuated by simply placing afinger thereon and pressing downwardly. When the three uppermost keysare released, elastic bands 98 return them to their original positions;when the six lowermost keys are released, they are returned to theiroriginalpcsitions either by the weights of the several limbs of themarionette (as in the case of the keys controlling the arms and legs) ormanuallyin the case of the head control keys. Across bar 99 may beprovided to actuate all of the three upper keys simultaneously, as forexample, to cause the marionette to jump. This cross'barmay be attachedto the three upper keys in any suitable way.

The foregoing is descriptive of preferred forms of this invention andmodifications may be incorporated into these forms and other forms maybe'had within the broad scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

'1. Marionette control apparatus comprising a stage for the marionette,a backdrop behindthe -'stage,-'a carriage movably mounted behind thebackdrop for nrovement transverse of "the stage and havingmeansiextehdmgtinfront :of:the:back+ drop above the stage, ;a':plurality of strings 'at- :tached to the movable parts of themarionette andsupportediabov'e saidtr'narionetteby said carriage meansand a? plurality offkeys attached .to :said strirfgs zfor'tmanipulatin'gthe same and thereby actuating the movable parts of the marionette, saidcarriagelbeingrmovable to move the marionette as a whole from side toside on "said stage.

2. Marionette control apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein-eachkey -comprisesiarslid ablytmounted button which is manually :slidable tomanipulat'e the strings and actuate the movable marionette parts.

3. Marionette control apparatus .in accordance withclaim 1 wherein eachkey'comprises afinger iringwhichmay be engaged-by one of theifingers ofithe performer soithat the performer may manipulate "the strings andactuate the movable marionette parts by simply moving'his' fingers.

4. Marionette control apparatus in accordance 'withi'claiml whereinidentifying indicia are provided' for the several 'keys to identify themwith "the marionette parts to which their respective strings areattached.

5. Marionette control apparatus in accordance with 'claim'l'wherein someof the keysare-main- 'tained'under tension which resists movement'in :adirection neces'sary'to manipulate their respective strings and themovable marionette parts actuated thereby.

6. Marionette 'control apparatus in accordance with 'claiml wherein thecarriage includes a vertically disposed panel and some of the-keys areslidably mounted on said panel, vertically thereof.

7. Marionette control apparatus in accordance with claim l'wherein amirror is provided above "the marionette=stage, projected at an angle toallow an operator behind thebackdrop o'f 'the 'stageto viewtheperformance of the marionette.

8. Marionette control apparatus in accordance with-claim 1 whereinat'least some of the'keys 'are slidably disposed on tracks provided inthe some of the keys so that said keys may 'be brought intooperativeposition when the panel is swung downwardly 'to'horizontalposition and into inoperative positionwhen the panel is swung upwardlyto vertical position. 7

10.'Marionette control apparatus accordance'with claim 1- wherein thestage is provided with a-roof and'withsi'de Walls and wherein said wallshave a pair of doors hingedly mounted thereonbeh'ind'thecarriage, sothat the working parts of the control apparatus maybe concea'led andprotected by swinging said doors to closed position, alatch beingprovided "for holding them'in closed position.

11. 'Marionette control apparatus for a marionette having a plurality-ofmovable parts, sa1d "control apparatus comprising a plurality of stringsattached to-said movable parts of "the marionette, said-strings -beingsupported by .a

carriage which -'is movable transversely v of Ith'e direct-ion ofmovement of 'said strings, uwhereby the marionette as a whole may bemoved from one place to another, and a plurality of keys, one attachedto each said strings, some of said keys being slidably mounted on saidcarriage and some of the keys being slidably mounted on a panel which isnormal to said carriage, said keys being actuable by the fingers of theperformer to manipulate the strings andthereby to actuate the movableparts of the marionette.

12. Marionette control apparatus for a marionette having a plurality ofmovable parts, said control apparatus comprising a plurality of stringsattached to said movable parts of the marionette, said strings beingsupported by a carriage including a vertically disposed panel, saidcarriage being movable transversely of the direction of movement of saidstrings, whereby the marionette as a whole may be moved from one placeto another, a plurality of keys attached to said strings, some of saidkeys being slidably -mounted on said vertically disposed panel,vertically thereof, and a second panel, said second panel being disposedon a horizontal plane and having the remaining keys slidably disposedthereon, on substantially the same horizontal plane, said keys beingactuable by the fingers of the performer to manipulate the strings andthereby to actuate the movable parts of the marionette.

13. Marionette control apparatus for a marionette having a plurality ofmovable parts, said control apparatus comprising a plurality of stringsattached to said movable parts of the marionette, said strings beingsupported by a carriage including a vertically disposed panel, saidcarriage being movable transversely of the direction of movement of saidstrings, whereby the marionette as a Whole may be moved from one placeto another, a plurality of keys attached to said strings, said keysbeing slidably disposed on said vertical panel, vertically thereof, andactuable by the fingers of the performer to manipulate the strings andthereby to actuate the movable parts of the marionette.

14. Marionette control apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein thekeys are provided with horizontally projecting finger portions tofacilitate engagement and manipulation by the fingers of the performer.

. CHARLES E. WHITCOMB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of 'record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,502,236 Dondo July 22, 19241,517,050 Dilks Nov. 25, 1924 1,601,983 Savage Oct. 5, 1926 1,788,671Heideklang Jan. 13, 1931 1,820,367 Rogers Aug. 25, 1931 1,874,819Simmons Aug. 30, 1932 2,466,214 Deaton Apr. 5, 1949

